Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Vienna

The Vienna State Opera, the city's premiere opera house, generally has performances from the beginning of September to early July. The Theater on the Wien has a more far-ranging schedule, so it only has opera from mid-September to mid-May.

While credit cards are widely used, it's best to have some cash on hand. We recommend having about 20 EUR/person per day on hand, just in case. It's best to use an ATM in the entrance to a bank, but you can also change US dollars at any exchange office.

The historic center of Vienna is compact and flat, so walking should not be a problem. But this former imperial capital has plenty of attractions beyond the "Innere Stadt." If you're the explorer type, grab a day ticket, good for 24 hours of transportation, for 8 EUR. Schönbrunn Palace, the Danube Canal, and the TV-Tower are worthwhile, and easily accessible by public transport. If you're just interested in a landmark or two beyond walking distance of the center, you can always purchase single tickets, or call a cab.

Many museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays. On other days, exhibition halls await guests, often from 10 AM to at least 6 PM. Concert halls offer acoustic experiences almost every day. Most shops are open from early morning until 8 PM, but close on Sundays, although souvenir shops tend to close earlier. Some restaurants, take Mondays off, while the Naschmarkt food market, and its restaurants, take a break on Sundays.

Viennese cuisine is very much meat-based, and not just because of the Wienerschnitzel. "Tafelspitz" (beef or veal boiled in broth and served with minced apples and horseradish, goulash, various cold cuts served with sauerkraut, spreads, and cheese, are all very popular. And let's not forget the city's famed sweets! Vienna is most famous for its Sacher Torte cakes, and Kaiserschmarrn (a fluffy sweet pancake that's torn up and served with even sweeter toppings such as jam and apple sauce), and has just as many strudels as any of its Central European neighbors. Viennese love to eat out, so we recommend reserving a table. Almost anywhere you go, though, you can expect a quality dining experience.

Imperial Vienna deserves a good 3-night stay. The historic city center, the "Innere Stadt," is relatively small, and you can get to know its exteriors fairly well with a 2.5-hour tour with a qualified day, then explore the rest of the city on your own or to choose other excursions available during your stay. On one of your full days, make sure to visit the Wachau Valley on a day trip by bike or private transfer. One of your evenings should be dedicated to a music event - it's Vienna, after all! For your last morning, attend the "morning exercises" of the famed Spanish Riding School's Lipizzaner Horses.

Like any other place in Austria, Vienna is very safe.